Beatitude People (11/10/2021)

(Note: this is the final of 10 articles on the Beatitudes in Christian Life)

Jesus taught the crowds on the Mount and his teaching comes down to us in the Gospel of Matthew. While this reminds us of Moses who received the law of the covenant from the LORD on Mt. Sinai, we recognize that this is very different in that here it is the crowd who receives the life-giving words from the LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God. Just as the Covenant of Mt. Sinai contained the relational directives for life, so, too, does the Sermon. Both prescribe the rules of righteousness which are all relational; righteousness is the fruit of right relationship with our loving LORD and with one another.

As we have studied the Beatitudes these past days, we have seen how Jesus anchors us in right relationship with our LORD by telling us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Indeed, we must acknowledge that all is rooted in the LORD and dependent upon the LORD for the LORD is not only our creator, our beginning, but the very source of our life. It is in the LORD that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Jesus then reminds us of how we are to conduct ourselves as we live that life we have been given.

We are to love well and love long which means we will mourn; we will grieve because of our love. We are to be meek; our lives are to be characterized by gentleness and humility. Our focus on loving the LORD and others in all our endeavors and encounters should spotlights our purity of heart. Our desire for peace and unity should manifest itself in our acceptance of the LORD’s creation of a diverse humanity and desire that we be one humanity, whole and holy. And our loving the LORD with our whole being will put us at odds with the world; we must be prepared for persecution for the sake of that relationship.

The beatitudes help us to see clearly the way home, to an eternal abode with our LORD where we will see the face of God. We are still journeying in faith, hope and love. As “beatitude” people, followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be the salt of the earth, here and now. And we are called to be light that shines before others, illuminating not only the way but the destination, our loving LORD.

Let us take the beatitudes to heart, let us ponder them, let us strive to live them.

Until tomorrow, love well.